tiny trees.

Three big and two little. Tree, that is. Five trees to assemble, decorate, and admire throughout the Christmas season. And five trees to disassemble and pack away. Am I crazy? Not as crazy as last year. Last year, there were six.

My favorite trees are the kiddos' tiny trees. P's eyes lit up when we unwrapped each and every ornament.

Our "jackpot" find of an ornament this year....P's new favorite.


Uga, trains, trucks, firemen, the McDonough courthouse, the Pink Pig. Each ornament is special.



And Emma Kate's tree? It's 100 percent girly girl. Ballerinas and tutus and slippers and crowns. And pink, pink, and more pink. I love it! (And she could care less.) Next year she will get to choose new ornaments to add to it.


Our family traditions that we have started become more and more special each Christmas. Our kids' excitement at this time of year takes me back to my childhood years of Christmas magic.

christmas cookies with cousins.

Aunt Mary invited us over last week for a cookie cook-off. A Christmas cookie cook-off. With cousins. It was really a lot of fun. We They made lots of different cookies and cakes, while I Baby Bjorned Emma Kate and took lots of pictures to document our little cookie carousal. Someone had to take pictures....

P and Granny made sugar cookies.





Amy and Nicholas made chocolate chip and peanut butter.




Aunt Mary made oatmeal raisin and mini pound cakes.


And I was the taste tester....

I did help ice the sugar cookies. This was the fun part.



Tommy was the taste tester, too.


Yum-mmo.




We also made a gingerbread house. The kids loved it.





P was in charge of reading the directions.



And sweet EK watched on, cooing, smiling, and kicking her little feet the entire time. What a sweet baby girl.


Our cookie cook-off was a blast. More Christmas pictures coming soon.

wonder.

My one and only picture that turned out from our adventure to Lake Lanier's Holiday Nights of Lights. We had an amazing time with family, looking at lights, freezing our bums off at the carnival, and enjoying every second of watching our kiddos play in twenty degree weather. I really need to learn to use a flash. Maybe more pictures would turn out. Thanks to my Secret Santa (John C.), my years of flash phobia are coming to an end. Look for more indoor pictures coming soon....

gingerbread train.

We changed it up a little this year compared to last year, since P is into trains and all.


We iced and decorated. I went to work. Came home. And all of the "decorations" were piled in the caboosey and the icing was half eaten. When questioning my toddler about the destroyed gingerbread creation, his response was simply, "Well, daddy wasn't paying attention, so I ate the icing. It was yummmmmy."

True story, folks.

message from santa.

I got a message for P from Santa in my inbox this evening. Loving it....

Make your own at portablenorthpole.tv.

visit with santa.

The big day had finally arrived. P was so excited he could hardly stand it. Today, he was going to see Santa Claus.

P hopped out of bed, ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair. He was ready to go.

Daddy and P made a list, complete with drawings of each toy to jog P's memory when Santa put him on the spot.


They rehearsed the big visit. P practiced what he would say to Santa, what questions he would ask, and what toys he would ask for. He probably recited his lines a hundred times. "Hi Santa. I've been a good boy this year. For Christmas, I would like a Tonka Chuck, a boy's kitchen, and a Thomas the Train with a lantern. And, Santa, where's the Nerf Pole?" (His words exactly. I promise.)

We waited in line only for an instant. The big moment had arrived. Even EK was getting excited.


Taylor and Santa's helper put P and EK on Santa's lap. And P froze. He was silent. All questions were forgotten. All toy lists were unremembered. But he was not afraid. Just shell-shocked. We did manage to get a tiny smile out of him for the picture.


P's mind was racing. "What do I say? What do I say?" Poor little guy. All of our rehearsing and practicing flew right out the window. But Santa knew just what to do to get P talking. He started asking him questions. Questions about his Christmas list. Questions about his baby sister. And then it all came back to him. P told Santa about the Tonka Chuck and the Thomas the Train with a lantern. He answered Santa's questions. And most importantly, he didn't cry. And neither did EK. They did it!


Afterwards, we headed up to the food court for lunch and then to the fountain to throw some pennies and take some pictures. It was a fun afternoon spent with my sweet family. And as for P meeting Santa, he could not be more excited. Now all he talks about is Christmas Day and all of the toys that Santa will bring. I just love his sweet innocent anticipation. 'Tis the season....

two months old.

She smiles big and she smiles often.


She loves peek-a-boo.


She is growing like a weed. (Eleven pounds, 15 ounces and twenty-two inches)


She has stolen her daddy's heart. And everyone else's.

i miss BOB.

On chilly days like today, I miss BOB.


He is good to my kids. He keeps them safe and warm.


He takes us to far away places. (Like the woods. And the playground.)


He carries our heavy load (of sticks, diaper bags, and juice cups).


Oh, that BOB. He is a good friend. But it looks like we will be spending some time apart. At least until this cold front passes through. And then, we can be reunited. Oh, happy day! What is the saying? The heart grows fonder....? Gosh, I miss BOB.

twenty-five days and counting.